Dekaney named interim director of Center for Live Music in the 21st Century

The Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music in Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) has announced that Joshua Dekaney has been named interim director of the Setnor School’s new Center for Live Music in the 21st Century.

The Center for Live Music in the 21st Century is a unique entity that is a combination of a research center and arts business incubator. It conducts research on live music in 21st-century society, develops successful business models, disseminates research, serves as a clearing house for best practices and provides the services of a business incubator to a variety of arts organizations. Through the center, students gain real-world experience, providing products and services aligned with their studies.

Dekaney is responsible for leading the center until a permanent director is hired. He will establish programming, procedures and staffing for the center’s first initiatives.

“I am thrilled to have Josh Dekaney leading this important and innovative center during its starting phase,” says Patrick Jones, Setnor School of Music director. “His musicianship, character, drive and diplomatic and organizational skills are crucial to getting such a venture off the ground and pointed in the right direction.”

“The Center for Live Music in the 21st Century is a unique place that combines research with student participation,” says Dekaney. “I am pleased to be the interim director.”

Dekaney is also a part-time instructor of percussion at the Setnor School who teaches drumset, Latin percussion, Brazilian percussion and jazz improvisation; leads Samba Laranja, the SU Brazilian Ensemble; and directs the drumline of the SU Pride of the Orange Marching Band.

Originally from Houston, Dekaney plays music from Americana to jazz to World Music and can be heard on more than 20 recordings. He has played percussion with artists Dave Valentin, Peter Cetera, Kaïssa, Jimmy Haslip, Anwar Robinson and Aretha Franklin. He has also played with many bands in Central New York, including the Turnip Stampede, Tim Herron Corp., Grupo Pagán, the Siders, Ashley Cox and the Ryan Montbleau Band.

Dekaney has traveled extensively throughout Brazil studying folk and popular music. He has worked with such artists as Vera Figueiredo, Flavio Pimenta and Tribores, and he was a headliner of the Batuka! 2010 International Drum Fest in São Paulo. He has also performed with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Lexington Philharmonic, the Binghamton Philharmonic and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.

Dekaney is a voting member of both the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Learn more at http://www.joshdekaney.com.

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